A year has now passed since
she was arrested and charged with inciting insurrection against the state, as
well as other offences. She was blocked from challenging Kagame in last year’s
presidential election in August. She was arrested on September 22, along with
her mother and sister for alleged tax evasion and forgery as well as for
inciting insurrection. In June 2018, Rwandan authorities auctioned off her
family’s business assets and sold machinery from the family’s tobacco business
for almost Sh2 billion ($2m) in a bid to recover Sh7 billion ($7m) in tax
arrears. Her mother Adeline was also refused bail on similar charges by the court
in the capital Kigali, but charges against his sister Diane were lifted and she
was released from custody.
she was arrested and charged with inciting insurrection against the state, as
well as other offences. She was blocked from challenging Kagame in last year’s
presidential election in August. She was arrested on September 22, along with
her mother and sister for alleged tax evasion and forgery as well as for
inciting insurrection. In June 2018, Rwandan authorities auctioned off her
family’s business assets and sold machinery from the family’s tobacco business
for almost Sh2 billion ($2m) in a bid to recover Sh7 billion ($7m) in tax
arrears. Her mother Adeline was also refused bail on similar charges by the court
in the capital Kigali, but charges against his sister Diane were lifted and she
was released from custody.
PERSECUTION
In an interview just
before her detention last month, Rwigara, 35, said she was a victim of
political persecution “for standing against oppression and speaking my
mind.”
before her detention last month, Rwigara, 35, said she was a victim of
political persecution “for standing against oppression and speaking my
mind.”
Other critics and
opposition figures have also been detained in recent weeks in what observers
say is a post-election crackdown on dissent.
opposition figures have also been detained in recent weeks in what observers
say is a post-election crackdown on dissent.
The refusal to allow her
to run against Kagame, who won the August 4 election with 99 percent of the
vote, on claims of procedural irregularities was widely criticised by Western
governments and rights groups.
to run against Kagame, who won the August 4 election with 99 percent of the
vote, on claims of procedural irregularities was widely criticised by Western
governments and rights groups.
The court on Monday spoke
of the “sensitivity” of the case, adding that Rwigara and her mother
could flee the country if they were released.
of the “sensitivity” of the case, adding that Rwigara and her mother
could flee the country if they were released.
Insurrection carries a
possible 15-year prison term.
possible 15-year prison term.
Rwigara is the daughter
of Assinapol Rwigara, an entrepreneur who made a fortune in industry and real
estate, and a main backer of Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) during its
efforts to topple the Hutu extremist regime in 1994, ending the Rwandan
genocide.
of Assinapol Rwigara, an entrepreneur who made a fortune in industry and real
estate, and a main backer of Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) during its
efforts to topple the Hutu extremist regime in 1994, ending the Rwandan
genocide.
Diane Rwigara later
distanced herself from the FPR after her father’s death in a car crash in 2015,
which she has claimed was an “assassination”.
distanced herself from the FPR after her father’s death in a car crash in 2015,
which she has claimed was an “assassination”.
The family says the
auction and charges against her are politically motivated.
auction and charges against her are politically motivated.
Kenyans on Twitter started
the hashtag #FreeDianeRwigara with an aim of raising a concern about a person
who tried to bring changes to their country.
the hashtag #FreeDianeRwigara with an aim of raising a concern about a person
who tried to bring changes to their country.
